Gold Focus, right, comes to collar Annagh Haven© Photo Healy Racing
Ronan Whelan conjured a well-timed finish from Gold Focus and the three-year-old filly swooped late to conquer in the extended mile and three apprentice handicap at Wexford. Annagh Haven battled her way to the front at the elbow and Leigh Roche sent her about her business to go and win the race. However, Whelan and Gold Focus soon followed her with a furlong to go. With 100 yards to race she edged in front and kept on to take the spoils by half a length. Jim Bolger’s 7/4 favourite had been 7/2 this morning.
Annagh Haven had some supporters at the track as she was backed down from 10s to 8/1. She was three and a half lengths in front of 33/1 outsider Abrahams Blessing in third.
Jim Bolger’s travelling head lad Ger Flynn said: “Ronan was delighted with her. She only won on Tuesday so all the credit goes to the boss, he placed her very well. She stays well and she acted around the track really well. She always give you a little fright, she gets there and just does enough.
“She got us out of trouble again today. She was our last runner at Ballinrobe the other day and she won and she was our last runner today and she won again so she is paying for the diesel! She handled the ground well, it's good to firm but it's a little bit dead in patches. She is versatile. She is a nice filly and it's onwards and upwards with her now.”
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
